Prepare to empty out that drawner full of stained delivery menus. Next time you feel like eating in, let GrubHub.com help you find dinner. You can find a list of all the delivering restaurants in your area and view their menus. GrubHub's model is to provide details for all restaurants, and then charge those who want priority listing, coupons, and online order-taking.
Mike and Matt, 29 and 30 years old, met while working at Apartments.com They started GrubHub in early 2003, and left their jobs recently to pursue this full-time. The company got a little kick this year when they won the University of Chicago New Venture Challenge and took home $25,000 in cash. Mike remarked about the competition, "We’re sitting up there in front of 300 people who really understand this stuff." Mike adds, "It was very intimidating. We got through that with a lot of practice."
Dimensions: ~6 people x 3 years x NDA (est. $6MM in orders placed)
Funding: $25,000 from U of C business plan competition
Customers: Anyone hungry who doesn't want to leave home
Location: Chicago [Lincoln Park] + www.grubhub.com
What's Next: They recently added San Francisco, New York, and Milwaukee and are working now on Seattle, Boston, Houston, and Washington, D.C.
